Section 8 of the Standard requires ceilings to be designed to resist earthquake forces, except where they are located within domestic structures less than 8.5m tall and “Importance Level One” structures. The Standard also applies to walls, partitions and other non-structural elements.

Designers, contractors, installers, builders and building surveyors are reminded that the requirements of AS 1170.4 – 2007 need to be considered when designing ceilings, walls, partitions and other non-structural elements within a building.

The recent withdrawal of nine Certificates of Conformity issued under the CodeMark Scheme has again highlighted the need for practitioners to take due care when accepting Certificates as evidence of suitability. While practitioners are entitled to accept or rely on a Certificate as evidence of suitability, they need to carefully review each Certificate to ascertain its current validity.

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) welcomes the decision of Vice President Judge Woodward of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in the proceedings brought by the owners of the Lacrosse building against LU Simon Builders Pty Ltd and others.